CN101006686A - Method and device for universal plug and play communications - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for Universal Plug and Play (UPUP) communication are provided, wherein the method includes: checking for a change in the presence of a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server in a network to which the communication device belongs; if the check determines that the presence of the DHCP server has changed, changing the Internet Protocol (IP) address used by the communication device to an IP address assigned to suit the changed environment; and notifying another communication device of the changed IP address.

Description

Method and apparatus for universal plug and play communication

technical field

Apparatuses, systems and methods consistent with the present invention relate to Universal Plug and Play communications, and more particularly, to Universal Plug and Play communications through rapid response to Internet Protocol (IP) address changes, thereby reducing communication interruption times .

Background technique

Generally, various devices including personal computers (PCs), smart products, wireless devices, etc. are controlled by interconnecting them to a single network through a virtual computing environment called middleware using a home network.

The middleware connects various digital devices in a peer-to-peer manner, thereby enabling communication between the devices. This middleware employs Home Audio/Video Interoperability (HAVI), Universal Plug and Play (UPnP), Java Intelligent Networking Infrastructure (JINI), Home Broadband Network (HWW), and others.

A UPnP communication device constituting a UPnP network includes controlled devices to be controlled and a control point that controls the controlled devices. The controlled device and the control point communicate based on IP.

IP addresses required for communication between UPnP communication devices are allocated in two methods. The IP address allocation method is determined according to whether there is a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server in the network.

If a DHCP server is connected to the network, an IP address is assigned to the UPnP communication device by the DHCP server. However, if no DHCP server exists on the network, the UPnP communication device uses an IP address selected by an auto IP (auto IP) assignment function. In this case, each UPnP communication device selects an IP address for its own use in an arbitrary manner within an automatic IP allocation range (for example, 169.254.1˜169.254.255). The UPnP communication device having the selected IP address determines whether the selected IP address is being used by another UPnP communication device, and then determines whether to use the IP address selected for its own use.

In this way, each UPnP communication device periodically checks whether a DHCP server exists in the network. While the UPnP communication device constituting the home network is assigned an IP address by the DHCP server and uses the IP address, the connection of the UPnP communication device to the DHCP server in the home network may be released. In this case, the UPnP communication devices detect this disconnection, and the UPnP communication devices set a new IP address to be used by them using an automatic IP allocation function. Similarly, a DHCP server may be connected to the home network while the UPnP communication devices constituting the home network are using the IP addresses set by the automatic IP assignment function. In this case, if UPnP communication devices detect such a connection, they request an IP address to be assigned by a DHCP server. According to the request, the UPnP communication device sets the IP address assigned by the DHCP server as a new IP address for its own use, and then uses the IP address.

As described above, UPnP communication devices periodically check the existence of a DHCP server within a network to which they belong, and when the existence of a DHCP server changes, the UPnP communication device uses a new IP address suitable for the changed environment.

Contents of the invention

technical problem

According to this conventional technique, although a UPnP communication device that detects a change in the presence of a DHCP server changes an IP address according to a changed environment, IP addresses indicating different subnets may exist in the same network. In this case, communication between UPnP communication devices may be interrupted, and this communication interruption may continue until all UPnP communication devices constructing the same network detect a change in the presence of a DHCP server and are assigned a new IP according to the changed environment address. Therefore, communication interruption may last for as long as the UPnP communication device determines the existence of the DHCP server, thereby causing user's inconvenience.

Technical solutions

According to the present invention, interruption of communication due to IP address change can be reduced by allowing a UPnP communication device that first detects a change in the presence of a DHCP server on a network to transmit information related to such a change to other UPnP communication devices time.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for Universal Plug and Play communication performed by a communication device, the method comprising: checking for a change in the presence of a DHCP server in the network to which the communication device belongs; As a result, it is determined that the presence of the DHCP server has changed, changing the IP address used by the communication device to an IP address assigned suitable for the changed environment; and notifying another communication device of the changed IP address.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device for universal plug and play communication, the device includes: a transceiver unit for sending data to and receiving data from another communication device; address setting a unit, if it is determined that the presence of a DHCP server in the network to which the device is connected through the transceiver unit has changed, the address setting unit changes the Internet Protocol address used by the device to an Internet Protocol address assigned suitable for the changed environment; and the control unit, check the existence of the DHCP server, and transmit the changed internet protocol address to other communication devices through the transceiver unit.

Description of drawings

The above and/or other aspects of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a network composed of UPnP communication devices according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating operations for UPnP communication according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the structure of an announcement package according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows the structure of a search package according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating operations for UPnP communication according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a flowchart illustrating operations for UPnP communication according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a flowchart illustrating operations for UPnP communication according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a UPnP communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The present invention and methods for carrying out the present invention can be better understood by referring to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings of exemplary embodiments which will be described in detail. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the inventive concept of the present invention to those skilled in the art, and the present invention will only be defined by the appended claims. Throughout the specification, the same reference numerals refer to the same parts.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1 , a network composed of UPnP communication devices according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown.

As shown, the network includes: controlled devices 110 and 130; control points 120 and 140 controlling the controlled devices 110 and 130; and a DHCP server 150 assigning IP addresses to the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140. In describing this exemplary embodiment, roughly four states may arise in the network. Each state will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7 .

A first state in which the controlled device first detects disconnection of the DHCP server from the network will be described with reference to FIG. 2 .

In this exemplary embodiment, the description of the control point 140 will be omitted, but the operation of the control point 140 can be deduced from the operation of the control point 120 .

In case the DHCP server 150 is connected to the network, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 communicate by using the IP addresses assigned by the DHCP server 150 . Then, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 periodically check the existence of the DHCP server 150 . If the DHCP server 150 is disconnected from the network, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 detecting the disconnection will select a new IP address by using an automatic IP allocation function.

If the controlled device 110 first detects the absence of the DHCP server 150 (S110), the controlled device 110 resets its own IP address by using an automatic IP allocation function (S115). The absence of the DHCP server 150 means that the DHCP server 150 is disconnected from the network. At this time, the controlled device 110 may perform an operation as in the conventional technique to determine whether any other UPnP communication device within the network uses the new IP address selected for its own use.

The controlled device 110, which has set a new IP address for its own use, may notify the control points 120 and 140 that the IP address has been changed by using the changed IP address (S120). The notification can be made through an announcement package defined in UPnP, and the structure of an announcement package according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3 . Announcement packets can be multicast.

The control point 120 having received the announcement packet determines whether the source IP of the received packet has the same subnet address as its own address (S125). That is, the control point 120 may determine whether the source IP address of the advertisement packet exceeds the address range set by the automatic IP allocation function.

If the source IP address has a subnet address different from its own address, the control point 120 may determine whether the DHCP server 150 exists regardless of a check period to detect a change in the presence of the DHCP server 150 (S130).

As a result, if it is determined that the DHCP server 150 does not exist, the control point 120 sets a new IP address through the automatic IP allocation function (S135). This operation may also be performed by the control point 140 . According to this, all control points existing in the network can set new IP addresses for their own use through the automatic IP allocation function.

The control point 120 using the new IP address notifies the controlled device 130 that its own IP address has been changed (S140). The notification may be made through a search packet defined in UPnP, the structure of which according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 . Search packets can be sent by multicast.

The controlled device 130 determines whether the source IP address of the received packet has the same subnet address as its own address (S145). That is, the controlled device 130 may determine whether the source IP address of the search packet exceeds the address range set by the automatic IP assignment function.

If the source IP address has a subnet address different from its own address, the controlled device 130 may determine whether the DHCP server 150 exists regardless of a changed check period for checking the presence of the DHCP server 150 ( S150 ).

As a result, if it is determined that the DHCP server 150 does not exist, the controlled device 130 sets a new IP address through the automatic IP allocation function (S155). This operation is also performed by other controlled devices (not shown) present in the network. Accordingly, all UPnP communication devices can set new IP addresses for their own use through the automatic IP allocation function.

The controlled device 130 that has set a new IP address to be used through the automatic IP assignment function may transmit a response packet search packet to the control point 120 by using its own changed IP address.

A second state in which the control point first detects that the DHCP server is disconnected from the network will be described with reference to FIG. 5 .

In this exemplary embodiment, the description of the controlled device 130 will be omitted, but the operation of the controlled device 130 can be inferred from the operation of the controlled device 110 .

In case the DHCP server 150 is connected to the network, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 communicate by using the IP addresses assigned by the DHCP server 150 . Then, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 periodically check the existence of the DHCP server 150 . If the DHCP server 150 is disconnected from the network, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 detecting the disconnection will set a new IP address by using the automatic IP assignment function.

If the control point 120 first detects the absence of the DHCP server 150 (S210), the control point 120 resets its own IP address by using an automatic IP allocation function (S215). The absence of the DHCP server 150 means that the DHCP server 150 is disconnected from the network. At this time, the control point 120 may perform an operation as in the conventional art to determine whether any other UPnP device within the network uses the new IP address selected for its own use.

The control point 120, which has set a new IP address for its own use, may notify the controlled devices 110 and 130 that its own IP address has been changed by using the changed IP address (S220). As mentioned above, this notification can be done through a search package.

The controlled device 110 receiving the search packet determines whether the source IP of the received packet has the same subnet address as its own address (S225). That is, the controlled device 110 may determine whether the source IP address of the search packet exceeds the address range set by the automatic IP allocation function.

If the source IP address has a subnet address different from its own address, the controlled device 110 may determine whether the DHCP server 150 exists regardless of a changed check period for checking the presence of the DHCP server 150 (S230).

As a result, if it is determined that the DHCP server 150 does not exist, the controlled device 110 sets a new IP address through the automatic IP allocation function (S235). This operation may also be performed by the controlled device 130 . According to this, all controlled devices existing in the network can set new IP addresses for their own use through the automatic IP assignment function.

The controlled device 110 using the new IP address notifies the control point 140 that its own IP address has been changed (S240). As mentioned above, this notification can be done through an announcement package.

The control point 140 determines whether the source IP address of the received packet has the same subnet address as its own address (S245). That is, the control point 140 may determine whether the source IP address of the announcement packet exceeds the address range set by the automatic IP allocation function.

If the source IP address has a subnet address different from its own address, the control point 140 may determine whether the DHCP server 150 exists regardless of a changed check period for checking the presence of the DHCP server 150 (S250).

As a result, if it is determined that the DHCP server 150 does not exist, the control point 140 sets a new IP address through the automatic IP allocation function (S255). This operation is also performed by other control points (not shown) present in the network. Accordingly, all UPnP communication devices can set new IP addresses for their own use through the automatic IP allocation function.

A third state in which the controlled device first detects that the DHCP server is connected to the network will be described with reference to FIG. 6 .

In this exemplary embodiment, the description of the control point 140 will be omitted, but the operation of the control point 140 can be deduced from the operation of the control point 120 .

In a case where the DHCP server 150 is disconnected from the network, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 communicate using the IP addresses set by the automatic IP assignment function. Then, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 periodically check the existence of the DHCP server 150 . If the DHCP server 150 is connected to the network, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 detecting the connection request the DHCP server 150 to assign IP addresses to them, and use the IP addresses assigned by the DHCP server 150 .

If the controlled device 110 first detects the presence of the DHCP server 150 (S310), the DHCP server 150 assigns a new IP address to the controlled device 110, and the controlled device 110 uses the IP address (S315). The presence of the DHCP server 150 means that the DHCP server 150 is connected to the network.

The controlled device 110 assigned a new IP address through the DHCP server 150 may notify the control points 120 and 140 that its own IP address has been changed by using the changed IP address (S320). As mentioned above, this notification can be done through an announcement package.

The control point 120 having received the announcement packet determines whether the source IP of the received packet has the same subnet address as its own address (S325). That is, the control point 120 may determine whether the source IP address of the advertisement packet exceeds the address range set by the automatic IP allocation function.

If the source IP address has a subnet address different from its own address, the control point 120 may determine whether the DHCP server 150 exists regardless of a changed check cycle for checking the presence of the DHCP server 150 (S330).

As a result, if it is determined that the DHCP server 150 exists, a new IP address may be set to the control point 120 by the DHCP server 150 (S335). This operation may also be performed by the control point 140 . Accordingly, new IP addresses can be assigned by the DHCP server 150 to all control points existing in the network.

The control point 120 using the new IP address notifies the controlled device 130 that its own IP address has been changed (S340). As mentioned above, this notification can be done through a search package.

The controlled device 130 receiving the search packet determines whether the source IP address of the received packet has the same subnet address as its own address (S345). That is, the controlled device 130 may determine whether the source IP address of the search packet is within the address range set by the automatic IP allocation function.

If the source IP address has a subnet address different from its own address, the controlled device 130 may determine whether the DHCP server 150 exists regardless of a changed check period for checking the presence of the DHCP server 150 (S350).

As a result, if it is determined that the DHCP server 150 exists, the controlled device 130 is assigned a new IP address for its own use by the DHCP server 150 (S355). This operation is also performed by other controlled devices (not shown) present in the network. Accordingly, the DHCP server can assign new IP addresses to all UPnP communication devices.

The controlled device 130 assigned a new IP address to be used may transmit a response packet search packet to the control point 120 by using its own changed IP address.

A fourth state in which the control point first detects that the DHCP server is connected to the network will be described with reference to FIG. 7 .

In this exemplary embodiment, the description of the controlled device 130 will be omitted, but the operation of the controlled device 130 can be inferred from the operation of the controlled device 110 .

In the case where the DHCP server 150 does not exist in the network, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 communicate using the IP addresses set by the automatic IP assignment function. Then, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 periodically check the existence of the DHCP server 150 . If the DHCP server 150 is connected to the network, the UPnP communication devices 110 to 140 detecting the connection request the DHCP server 150 to assign IP addresses to them so that they are assigned new IP addresses by the DHCP server 150 .

If the control point 120 first detects the presence of the DHCP server 150 (S410), the control point 120 requests the DHCP server 150 to assign an IP address thereto, and receives the assigned new IP address (S415). The presence of the DHCP server 150 means that the DHCP server 150 is connected to the network.

The control point 120 assigned the new IP address used by itself may notify the controlled devices 110 and 130 that its own IP address has been changed by using the changed IP address (S420). As mentioned above, this notification can be done through a search package.

The controlled device 110 receiving the search packet determines whether the source IP of the received packet has the same subnet address as its own address (S425). That is, the controlled device 110 may determine whether the source IP address of the search packet is within the address range set by the automatic IP allocation function.

If the source IP address has a subnet address different from its own address, the controlled device 110 may determine whether the DHCP server 150 exists regardless of a changed check period for checking the presence of the DHCP server 150 (S430).

As a result, if it is determined that the DHCP server 150 exists, the controlled device 110 requests the DHCP server 150 to assign an IP address, and receives the assigned new address (S435). Accordingly, new IP addresses can be assigned by the DHCP server 150 to all controlled devices existing in the network.

The controlled device 110 assigned a new IP address notifies the control point 140 that its own IP address has been changed (S440). As mentioned above, this notification can be done through an announcement package.

The control point 140 having received the announcement packet determines whether the source IP address of the received packet has the same subnet address as its own address (S445). That is, the control point 140 may determine whether the source IP address of the announcement packet is within the address range set by the automatic IP allocation function.

If the source IP address has a subnet address different from its own address, the control point 140 may determine whether the DHCP server 150 exists regardless of a changed check period for checking the presence of the DHCP server 150 (S450).

As a result, if it is determined that the DHCP server 150 exists, a new IP address is assigned to the control point 140 by the DHCP server 150 (S455). This operation is also performed by other control points (not shown) present in the network. Accordingly, the DHCP server can assign new IP addresses to all UPnP communication devices.

As described above, when a UPnP communication device detects a change in the presence of a DHCP server on the network, it notifies other UPnP communication devices of the change. According to this, the UPnP communication device may determine the presence of the DHCP server regardless of the changed check cycle for checking the presence of the DHCP server 150 . As a result, the interruption time of communication caused when the IP address is changed due to a change in the presence of the DHCP server can be reduced.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a UPnP communication device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the UPnP communication device includes: an address setting unit 210, which sets an IP address; a control unit 220, which determines the existence of a DHCP server; and a transceiver unit 230, which is connected to a wired or wireless medium for communication, and sends data packets to other UPnP communication device, and receive data packets from other UPnP communication devices.

The address setting unit 210 sets an IP address to be used by the UPnP communication device. The set IP address may be an IP address assigned by a DHCP server, or an IP address assigned by performing an automatic assignment function.

The control unit 220 periodically checks whether a DHCP server exists in the network to which the UPnP communication device is connected. If the existence of the DHCP server is changed, the control unit 220 controls the address setting unit 210 so as to set an IP address suitable for the changed environment.

For example, if it is detected that a DHCP server present on the network is disconnected from the network, the control unit 220 controls the address setting unit 210 so as to perform an automatic IP assignment function. If it is detected that a DHCP server that does not exist on the network is connected to the network, the control unit 220 controls the address setting unit 210 so as to set the IP address through the DHCP server. In this case, the address setting unit 210 may create a request packet for IP allocation, transmit it to the DHCP server, and as a result, set the IP address allocated by the DHCP server as the IP address to be used by the UPnP communication device.

If the address setting unit 210 sets a new IP address because the existence of the DHCP server is changed, the control unit 220 creates a data packet, and sends the data packet through the transceiver unit 230, wherein the changed IP address can be sent to Other UPnP communication devices. The data packets may be advertisement packets or search packets as described above. The type of the packet is determined depending on whether the UPnP communication device is a control point or a controlled device.

When receiving a predetermined data packet (for example, an advertisement packet or a search packet) from another UPnP communication device, the control unit 220 determines whether the source IP address of the received packet is within the same subnet as the IP address set by the address setting unit 210. If the source IP address of the received packet belongs to a subnet different from the IP address set by the address setting unit 210, the control unit 220 determines the presence of the DHCP server regardless of the changed checking period for checking the presence of the DHCP server. As a result, if the existence of the DHCP server is changed, the control unit 220 controls the address setting unit 210 to set an IP address suitable for the changed environment.

The operation of the UPnP device can be understood from the detailed description of FIGS. 2 to 7 .

Industrial availability

As described above, the UPnP communication method and device of the present invention effectively reduce the trouble caused by the IP address change by allowing the UPnP communication device that detects the change of the presence of the DHCP server on the network to change the IP address suitable for the changed environment. Communication interruption time.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various substitutions, modifications and changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, it should be understood that the above-described exemplary embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

Claims (7)

1, a kind of method that is used for the universal plug and play communications of communicator execution, described method comprises:

The change of the existence of DHCP (DHCP) server in the network of inspection under communicator;

If determine that as the result who checks the existence of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server changes, then the Internet protocol address that communicator is used is changed into the environment that is suitable for changing and the new Internet protocol address of distributing; With

New Internet protocol address is notified to another communicator.

2, the method for claim 1, wherein regularly carry out the step of the change of the existence of checking Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server.

3, the method for claim 1, wherein, if the Internet protocol address that source address that comprises and described communicator use does not belong to same subnet, then carry out the step of the change of the existence of checking Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server from the predetermined bag that other communicators send.

4, the method for claim 1, wherein distribute described new Internet protocol address by Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server or by carrying out automatic Internet protocol address distribution function.

5, a kind of device that is used for universal plug and play communications, described device comprises:

Transmit-Receive Unit sends to another communicator with data, and receives data from another communicator;

The address setting unit, change if determine the existence of DHCP in the network that described device is connected to by Transmit-Receive Unit (DHCP) server, then the environment that is suitable for changing is changed into and the new Internet protocol address of distributing with the Internet protocol address that described device uses in the address setting unit; With

Control unit is checked the existence of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server, and by Transmit-Receive Unit described new Internet protocol address is sent to other communicators.

6, device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, control unit is made regular check on the existence of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server.

7, device as claimed in claim 5, wherein, if the Internet protocol address that source address that comprises from the predetermined bag that other communicators send and described device use does not belong to same subnet, then control unit is checked the existence of Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server.

Images